The '''Hymn of Kassiani''', also known as the ''Hymn of the Fallen Woman'', is a work classified as a [[Penitential Hymns|Penitential Hymn]] that is based on [[Mary Magdalene]] <ref> St. Mary Magdalene is first introduced by the the Evangelist Luke in the Gospel according to Luke 7:36-50.</ref>. This hymn is considered a musical high-point of the [[Holy Week]] and chanted, in the Fourth Plagal Tone <ref>A major scale with a frequently flatted seventh degree.</ref>, for the morning office of Holy Wednesday.

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The '''Hymn of Kassiani''', also known as the ''Hymn of the Fallen Woman'', is a [[Penitential Hymns|Penitential Hymn]] that is based on the Gospel reading for Holy Wednesday morning ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 26:6-16), which speaks of a sinful woman who anoints Jesus' feet with costly ointment (distinguished from a similar incident with a different woman, St. [[Mary Magdalene]]). This hymn is chanted only once a year and considered a musical high-point of the [[Holy Week]], at the [[Matins]] and Presanctified Liturgy of [[Holy Week|Holy Wednesday]], in the Plagal Fourth Tone.

==History==

==History==

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One story, related by Saint Theodora in The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church holds that Abbess Kassiani spent the afternoon in the garden composing this hymn. As she finished writing that verse which says, I shall kiss Thine immaculate feet, and wipe them again with the tresses of my head. she was informed that Emperor Theophilos had arrived at the convent. She did not wish to see him, and in her haste to conceal herself, left behind the scroll and pen. Theophilos, having entered the garden, found her half-completed poem, and added the phrase, those feet at whose sound Eve hid herself for fear when she heard Thee walking in Paradise in the Afternoon. After he departed, Kassianh came out from hiding. When she took up her composition, she beheld the phrase written in his handwriting. She retained it and went on to complete the poem.

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One story, related by Saint [[Theodora (9th century empress)|Theodora]] in The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church holds that Abbess Kassiani spent the afternoon in the garden composing this hymn. As she finished writing that verse which says, "I shall kiss Thine immaculate feet, and wipe them again with the tresses of my head," she was informed that Emperor Theophilos had arrived at the convent. She did not wish to see him, and in her haste to conceal herself, left behind the scroll and pen. Theophilos, having entered the garden, found her half-completed poem, and added the phrase, "those feet at whose sound Eve hid herself for fear when she heard Thee walking in Paradise in the afternoon." After he departed, Kassiani came out from hiding. When she took up her composition, she beheld the phrase written in his handwriting. She retained it and went on to complete the poem.

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==Text==

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== Hymn of Kassiani text ==

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''O Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving Thy divinity, took upon herself the duty of a myrrh-bearer; with lamentation she bringeth Thee myrrh oils before Thine entombment. "Woe unto me," she said, "for night is become for me a frenzy of licentiousness, a gloomy and moonless love of sin. Receive the fountains of my tears, O Thou Who dost gather into clouds the water of the sea. Incline unto the sighings of my heart, O Thou Who didst bow the heavens by Thine ineffable kenosis (self-emptying).''

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<blockquote>

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O Lord God, the woman who had fallen into many sins,

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having perceived Thy divinity

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received the rank of ointment-bearer,

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offering Thee spices before Thy burial

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wailing and crying:

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"Woe is me, for the love of adultery and sin

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hath given me a dark and lightless night;

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accept the fountains of my tears

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O Thou Who drawest the waters of the sea by the clouds

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incline Thou to the sigh of my heart

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O Thou Who didst bend the heavens

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by Thine inapprehensible condescension;

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I will kiss Thy pure feet

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and I will wipe them with my tresses.

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I will kiss Thy feet Whose tread

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when it fell on the ears of Eve in Paradise

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dismayed her so that she did hide herself because of fear.

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Who then shall examine the multitude of my sin

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and the depth of Thy judgment?

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Wherefore, O my Saviour

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and the Deliverer of my soul

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turn not away from Thy handmaiden

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O Thou of boundless mercy".

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</blockquote>

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''I shall kiss Thine immaculate feet, and wipe them again with the tresses of my head, those feet at whose sound Eve hid herself for fear when she heard Thee walking in Paradise in the afternoon. The multitude of my sins and the abyss of Thy judgments, who can search them out, O my Saviour of souls? Do not disdain me, Thy handmaiden, O Thou Whose mercy is measureless.''

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== See also ==

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* [[Kassiani the Hymnographer]]

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{{inprogress}}

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[[Category:Liturgics]]

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[[ro:Cântarea Casianei]]

Revision as of 15:36, March 26, 2013

The Hymn of Kassiani, also known as the Hymn of the Fallen Woman, is a Penitential Hymn that is based on the Gospel reading for Holy Wednesday morning (Matthew 26:6-16), which speaks of a sinful woman who anoints Jesus' feet with costly ointment (distinguished from a similar incident with a different woman, St. Mary Magdalene). This hymn is chanted only once a year and considered a musical high-point of the Holy Week, at the Matins and Presanctified Liturgy of Holy Wednesday, in the Plagal Fourth Tone.

History

One story, related by Saint Theodora in The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church holds that Abbess Kassiani spent the afternoon in the garden composing this hymn. As she finished writing that verse which says, "I shall kiss Thine immaculate feet, and wipe them again with the tresses of my head," she was informed that Emperor Theophilos had arrived at the convent. She did not wish to see him, and in her haste to conceal herself, left behind the scroll and pen. Theophilos, having entered the garden, found her half-completed poem, and added the phrase, "those feet at whose sound Eve hid herself for fear when she heard Thee walking in Paradise in the afternoon." After he departed, Kassiani came out from hiding. When she took up her composition, she beheld the phrase written in his handwriting. She retained it and went on to complete the poem.

Hymn of Kassiani text

O Lord God, the woman who had fallen into many sins,
having perceived Thy divinity
received the rank of ointment-bearer,
offering Thee spices before Thy burial
wailing and crying:
"Woe is me, for the love of adultery and sin
hath given me a dark and lightless night;
accept the fountains of my tears
O Thou Who drawest the waters of the sea by the clouds
incline Thou to the sigh of my heart
O Thou Who didst bend the heavens
by Thine inapprehensible condescension;
I will kiss Thy pure feet
and I will wipe them with my tresses.
I will kiss Thy feet Whose tread
when it fell on the ears of Eve in Paradise
dismayed her so that she did hide herself because of fear.
Who then shall examine the multitude of my sin
and the depth of Thy judgment?
Wherefore, O my Saviour
and the Deliverer of my soul
turn not away from Thy handmaiden
O Thou of boundless mercy".